The memorandum was signed by Bo Andersson, president/CEO of GAZ Group, and Alexey Miller, chairman of OJSC Gazprom, at the Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The deal will see GAZ Group involved in the adaptation of the industrial and technological base of companies operating natural gas vehicles in accordance with current regulatory documents. Gazprom, in turn, will provide the filling facilities for compressed natural gas-engine vehicles, coordinate construction of the gas-engine infrastructure facilities in areas with a high concentration of natural gas vehicles, and facilitate testing of gas-engine vehicles.

GAZ Group and Gazprom agreed upon mutual interaction while developing projects associated with using natural gas as an engine fuel. The parties intend to agree the list of regions identified for supplies of natural gas vehicles along with the list of areas where refuelling compressor stations are to be built. The parties also agreed that they would coordinate the organization of the system of occupational training and retraining of engineers and technical specialists dedicated to operation and maintenance of gas-engine vehicles.

Bo Inge Andersson, president/CEO of GAZ Group, said: ‘GAZ Group considers the development of world-class light commercial vehicles, trucks and buses using gas fuel as one of its priority areas. The cooperation with Gazprom will allow us to coordinate our efforts in expanding the Russian fleet of natural gas vehicles and develop the necessary infrastructure necessary for its operation.

‘Taking into account the high economic efficiency of gas vehicles, the conversion of commercial transport to natural gas will help to increase the competitiveness both of individual businesses and the national economy in general.’